Filling mechanism for looms



Nov. 5, 1968 T. s. HIGGINS ETAI. 3,409,053

FILLING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March '7, 1967ATTORNEY y l L DONALD d. L LOT-FE Nov. 5, 1968 T. s. HIGGINS ETAL3,409,053

FILLING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March '7, 1967INVENTOKE THEDORE 5-H|GGINS5 BY DONALDJ-L|ZOTTE am ATTORNEY Nov. 5, 1968T. s. HIGGINS ETAL 3,409,053

FILLING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March '7, 1967INVENTORQ THEDoFzf-l 5l-I1 DONALDIQJ. L l

United States Patent O 3,409,053 FILLING MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Theodore S.Higgins, Woonsocket, and Donald J. Lzotte,

Smithfield, RJ., assignors, by mesne assignments, to

John Donald Marshall and Horace L. Bomar, as trustees of the CarolinaPatent Development Trust Filed Mar. 7, 1967, Ser. No. 621,168 13 Claims.(Cl. 139-122) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A filling mechanism forshuttleless looms having a rotatable indexing head for supporting andguiding a plurality of filling yarns at spaced feeding stations aboutsaid head, and selectively controllable clutch members for rotating saidhead to any one of said stations for individual presentation of afilling yarn to the filling carrier element for insertion into the warpshed.

Background of the invention The invention pertains to a filling motionfor shuttleless looms of the type adapted to introduce filling from anoutside source into the `warp sheds by reciprocating flexible yarncarrying elements.

Shuttleless looms for weaving in the manner described wherein thefilling mechanism controls and presents a single end of filling forinsertion are shown and described in U.S. Patent No. 2,654,399. Thefilling control mechanism of this patent has performed satisfactorily inlooms weaving from a single source of supply, such as one grade or onecolor of filling yarn.

In the weaving of certain types of fabrics it is often desirable to forma patterning effect by mixing filling yarns of a different color to formstripes which is accomplished by selecting one color for a given numberof picks and subsequently selecting a second then a third and so on.Additionally, such patterning effects are substantially increased by astriped warp wherein unlimited plaid and check patterns can be formed.

A form of selective filling mechanism for shuttleless looms is shown anddescribed in U.S. Patent, Ser. No. 3,323,556, to T. S. Higgins et al.,filed June 1, 1965. Similar to the instant invention the disclosure ofthis application relates to a mechanism for selectively insertinglengths of filling yarn from a plurality of outside sources inaccordance with some desired pattern.

The filling mechanism of the present invention receives its dictatesfrom a selective control unit adapted to function in accordance with apredetermined pattern, and with a minimum number of cooperatingcomponents and space limitations the mechanism is adapted to rotate theindexing head to position any one of the plurality of filling yarnssupported and guided thereby to a position to be received by the fillinginserting element. The mechanism further includes selectivelycontrolling indexing head positioner members which are effective inlimiting the rotation `of said indexing head to the precise position forfeeding a selected filling yarn. Additionally, the rapid movement of theindexing head during rotation in one direction and then the other isstabilized by a braking device which receives its indication lfrom theselective control unit.

its source of drive from and is supported by the filling control housingwhich as is well known to those familiar with this type of loom, isattached at one end of the upper -surface of the looms breast beam.

The mechanism includes a rotatable shaft on which the filling threadpositioner or so-called indexing" head is assembled for movement withsaid shaft. A second shaft is supported for clockwise and anti-clockwiserotation in spaced and parallel relation with the rotatable shaft and ismechanically linked to the latter for transmitting its dictates thereto.

A driving shaft having a pair of fixed gear members thereon is disposedin such a manner that each of the gear members are in driving relationwith freely rotatable gear elements supported on the second shaft. Thegear elements on the rotatable shaft are arranged to rotate in oppositedirections and each functions in cooperation with an electro-magneticclutch also supported by said second shaft.

The clutches are energized by a selective control unit in accordancewith some desired pattern. When one clutch is energized it turns thesecond shaft in one direction and when the other is energized it turnssaid shaft in the opposite direction. This motion is transferred to therotatable shaft and the indexing head being rotatable therewith moves toa position to present one of its filling yarns to the carrier elementfor insertion within the warp shed. A selectively controlled positioningmeans functions to limit the amount of rotation of the rotatable shaftand indexing head so as to precisely locate the selected filling yarn infeeding position.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. l is a View in side elevation of aportion of a shuttleless loom showing the mechanism according to theinvention applied thereto;

FIG, 2 is a plan view of a portion of the mechanism shown in FIG. 1showing the relationship between the driving shaft and second shaftwhich supports the electromagnetic clutches;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing by means of full and phantom lines thevarious components comprising the invention and how the source of driveis obtained from the filling control housing; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view in exploded form showing further detail ofthe multiplicity of elements comprising the invention.

Description of the preferred embodiment Now referring to the figures ofdrawing, enough of a shuttleless loom is shown in FIG. l to serve as abasis for a detailed -description of the invention applied thereto.

In FIGS., 1, 3 and 4 there is shown a filling control housing generallyindicated by numeral 10 and in FIG. 1 its position on the upper surfaceof the breast beam 11 which traverses the distance between the loomsides12 (one only shown) in the well known manner.

A shaft 13 is supported for rotation in the housing 10 with one end ofsaid shaft extending outwardly beyond the limits of said housing as at14 in FIG. 4. This shaft is journaled in opposed bearings 14 and 15provided in the sides of the housing 10 and is caused to rotate in aclockwise direction as viewed in FIG, l by means of bevel gears 1'6 and17 shown in FIG. 3. Bevel gear 17 is fixed on shaft 13 and is in meshingrelation with bevel gear 16 which is fixed to a shaft member (not shown)that is connected by gear means to the looms cam shaft (not shown).

That portion 14 of shaft 13 which extends from housing 10 has a sprocket18 fixed thereon for rotation with said shaft.

The -means for supporting the various components of the presentinvention comprises a pair of spaced and horizontally aligned supportbrackets 19 and 20 which assemble in abutting relation on machinedsurfaces 21 and 22 (FIGS. 3 and 4) formed on the sides of the housingmost remote from the front of the loom. As shown in FIG. 4 each of thesemachined surfaces is provided with a pair of tapped holes 23 and bymeans of cap screws 24 bracket 19 assembles to surface 21 and bracket 20to surface 22. Aligned and integrally formed bosses are provided on theuppermost portion of the support brackets 19 and 20 with that on bracket19 being identified by numeral 25 and that on bracket 20 Iby numeral 26.These bosses 25 and 26 are provided with aligned apertures 27 and 28having bushings 29 and 30, respectively, assembled therein (FIG. 4)which serve to support a driving shaft 31 for rotation in a clockwisedirection. One end of the driving shaft 31 extends outwardly beyond thelimits of boss 25 and supports on this end a sprocket 32 which is inalignment with sprocket 18, and is rotatable with said shaft. An idlersprocket 33 is adjustably assembled in alignment with the intermediatesprockets 18 and 32.

This idler sprocket 33 is rotatably attached to a supporting arm 34(FIG. 4) by means of a shouldered bolt 35 and said arm is attached to abase 36 provided on the side of bracket 19 by means of a cap screw 37.Idler sprocket 33 is rotated by a sprocket chain 38 which interconnectssprockets 18 land 32 and the clockwise motion of said sprocket 18 istransmitted to said sprocket 32. Intermediate the support brackets 19and 20 the driving shaft 31 supports in spaced relation a pair of spurgears 39 and 40 which are in driving relation with a pair of gearelements 57 and 58 rotatably supported on a second shaft 41. One end ofshaft 41 is supported and journaled in a bearing member 42 which isassembled in an aperture 43 provided in the support bracket 19,. Supportbracket 20` is provided with a pair of spaced leg elements 44 and 45which are interconnected by a web 46 disposed adjacent that surfacewhich abutts the machined surface 22 of the housing 10 when assembled tothe latter (FIGS. 2, 3 and 4). Leg elements 44 and 45 include aperturesin alignment with aperture 43 in the support brac-ket 19 and which shaft41 extending through these openings it is further supported for rotationby bearing members 47 and 48. Bearing 47 is assembled in the apertureprovided in leg element 44 and supports the shaft 41 at a point inspaced relation to its end. Bearing 48 is assembled in the apertureprovided in leg element 45 and serves to support the end of shaft `41.Within the span between leg elements 44 and 45, shaft 41 is providedwith a gear pinion 49 which serves as a means for transmitting therequired motion to rotate the indexing head and will be more fullydescribed hereinafter. That portion of shaft 41 which traverses thedistance between support brackets 19 and 20 supports in spaced relationa pair of electromagnetic clutches generally indicated by numerals 50and 51 and an electro-magnetic brake 52. These electro-magnetic clutchesand brake may be of the type manufactured and sold by the WarnerElectric Brake and Clutch Co. of Beloit, Wis.

yEach of the clutch members is arranged to rotate shaft 41 in adirection opposite to that of the other. Clutch 50 includes an armaturehub 53 and armature 54 and these members in clutch 51 are identified bynumerals 55 and 56, respectively (FIG. 2). The armature hubs andarmatures are rotatably assembled on shaft 41 and each is caused torotate in opposite directions by means of gear elements 57 and 58 whichare fixed on the armature hubs 53 and 55, respectively. Gear element 58is in driving relation with spur gear 40 on the driving shaft 31 and iscaused to rotate in an anticlockwise direction. Gear element 57 is inmeshing relation with an idler gear 59 which is rotatably assembled bymeans of a shouldered stud 60 to the inner side of support bracket 19.This idler gear is in driving relation with spur gear 39 and causes gearelement 57 and its respective armature 54 and armature hub 53 to rotatein a clockwise direction. Each of the clutches includes a rotor which inclutch 50 is depicted by numeral 61 and in clutch 51 by numeral 62 (FIG.2). These rotors are fixedly Iattached to shaft 41 and it should now beeasily understood, thatthe shaft will turn according to the dictatesofthe particular clutch selected. Each clutch;includes.a fixed shell 7orso-called Vfield and these are identitiedfor clutches 50 and 51 bynumerals 63 and64 M1.. te;

The electro-magnetic brake 52 comprises components similar tothe'cltch'eswhich includes-an armature hub 65, armature 66, a rotor 67and a field 68 (FIG. 1). The field 68 of the brake is provided on oneend thereof with a flange 69 and by means of four screws 70 (FIG. 4) theliange is lixedlyattached to leg element 44 of the support bracket 20.The electrical leads extending from the fields of the clutches and brakeare directed into and extend through a conduit pipe 71 supported abovesaid clutches and brake. One Vend vof this conduit pipe 71 is fxedlyheld in'v'a'n integrally formed clamping hub 72 provided on the inner`end of the support bracket 19 (FIGS. 3 and 4). The opposite end oftheconduit pipe is firmly held by a supporting arm 73 which by means of acap screw 74 is assembledto the side of a plunger guide 75 that will befurther described hereinafter.

The electrical leads from the clutches and brake members areinterconnected with a selective control unit (not shown) and saidmembers are activated and deactivated in accordance with somepredetermined pattern. To prevent the fields 63 and 64 from rotatingwith their respective rotors, each is provided with an upwardly directedear 82v which by meansof -a screw 83 is attached to positioner elements84 which are ixedly carried on the conduit pipe 71 lisl generalalignment with each of said clutches. f

Intermediate leg elements 44 and 45 of support bracket 20 and in spacedrelation to gear pinion 49 a second gear pinion 76 is mounted forrotation with and adjacent one end of a rotatable shaft 77.

This rotatable shaft 77 is journaled in suitable bearing members 78 and79 assembled in aligned apertures provided in leg elements 44 and 45,respectively, and extends outwardly from the latter in a plane parallelwith shaft 41 which supports the clutch and brake members.

That portion of the rotatable shaft 77 which extends from the supportbracket 20' supports the filling yarn indexing head elements whichincludes a unit identified by numeral 80 having the filling yarn guidingmembers and friction brackets and a second unit identied by numeral 81(FIG. 3) which includes the thread cutting and clamping members. Fourlengths of filling yarns which are identified by the letter Y, eachbeing drawn from a separate source of supply are shown being guidedthrough unit 80 to the second unit 81 where the ends are clamped andheld in readiness for selective positioning and presentation to theinserting means by the usual depressor 81. Further reference to theelements of the indexing head are considered unnecessary for theaforementioned patent application shows and describes these members incomplete detail. i l

A rack gear 85 (FIGS. l and 4) is in meshing relation with the gearpinions 49 and 76 and any selective rotation of shaft 41 by the clutchmembers is transmitted through said rack gearto the rotatable shaft androtates the yarn indexing head elements to a position to present achosen yarn to the filling inserting member generally indicated bynumeral 86 in FIG. 1.

A means is provided which governs the amount of movement during eachselection to assure proper positioning of the indexing head elements andincludes a plurality of plunger members generally indicated by numeral87 equal in number to the number of Iavailable yarns capable of beingselected for warp shed insertion. These plunger members are in the formof a cube 88 having an elongated necked portion 89 extending therefrom.The plunger members are juxtapositioned within a plunger guide 75. Asecond plunger guide 90 having a lower longitudinal extending recess 91(FIG. 4) of a configuration to provide clearance for the upper portionof the rack gear 85 assemblies with plunger guide 75 to the uppersurface of leg elements 44 Iand 45 of the support bracket 20. Cap screws92 (FIGS. l and 4) provide the means of assembly for the plunger guidesby passing through aligned openings in each end of said guides with thethreaded portion of said screws being receivable into tapped holes 93provided in the leg elements 44 and 45. As shown in FIG. 4 the secondplunger guide 90 is provided with a centrally disposed andlongitudinally extending opening 94 through which a part of the cubeportion 88 of each plunger 87 is adapted to extend to a position inclose proximity with the upper surface of the rack gear 85. Each of theplunger members is spring biased in the direction of the rack gear andincludes a coil spring 95 assembled on the neck portion 89 which iscaused to bear against the cube portions 88 on one end and a retainerplate 96 at the opposite end. The retainer plate is assembled in spacedrelation to the plunger guide 75 by means of spacer elements 97 and 98fixed to the upper and end surfaces of said guide 75. Each spaced islprovided with a threaded stud 99 which extends through an alignedyaperture in the retainer plate and each is adapted to receive a washer100 and a nut 101 for the retainment of said plate. Intermediate thestuds 99 which extend through the retainer plate, a plurality ofopenings 102 (FIGS. l and 4) are provided which equal the number ofplunger members 87 and the necked portion 89 of each extends through andbeyond the upper limits of said plate. The upper end of each plungermember is connected to a Bowden wire 103 which receives its dictatesfrom the selective control unit and is caused to function in conjunctionwith the electro-magnetic clutches 50 and 51.

A plunger positioning block 104 assemblies in a centrally disposedrecess 105 provided inthe upper surface of the rack gear 85 by means ofa screw 106 (FIG. 4) yand during its intended function is caused to movewith said rack gear within the limits of the longitudinal extendingopening 94 in the second plunger guide 90.

In operation, the selective control unit (not shown) is caused toenergize and de-energize the clutch members in accordance with `apredetermined pattern. The pair of clutches are effective individuallyin rotating their supporting shaft either in a clockwise oranti-clockwise direction and this motion is transferred through the rackgear to the shaft which supports the indexing head for rotating thelatter to a position for presenting one of its yarns to the insertingmember.

Immediately prior to sending an indication to one of the clutches, theselective control unit through the Bowden wire connections causes one ormore of the plunger members to be pulled upwardly and away from the rackgear. The plunger member individual to a particular chosen yarn remainsselected and the positioning block 104 is positioned directly beneathit. The plunger members on each side of a selected plunger are by meansof the coil springs 95 maintained in a position of close proximity withthe upper surface ofthe rack gear 85. If a selected plunger should beone of the end plunger members and on the next selection the plunger onthe opposite end is to be selected, the intermediate plungers are alsopulled upwardly along with the chosen plunger to permit the positioningblock 104 to move with the rack gear to a position directly below thelatter plunger. After the rack gear has moved the required distance theintermediate plungers are released to move to a position in closeproximity with the upper surface of the rack and the selected plunger isfirmly positioned until a subsequent selection is made. This sameprocedure occurs when the rack gear is caused to move in eitherdirection; however, when an adjacent plunger is to be selected only thatplunger is pulled outwardly and after the rack gear is moved, thepreviously selected plunger is released to assume their close positionwith the rack gear.

The mechanism is capable of functioning without the assistance of theelectro-magnetic brake 52; however, said brake serves to stabilize themovement of the clutch supporting shaft 41 during its sudden movement inone direction and then the other.

While one embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, it is to beunderstood that the inventive concept may be carried out in a number ofways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to the precisedetails described, but is intended to embrace all variations andmodifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and thescope of the claims.

We claim:

1. In a shuttleless loom having means for inserting filling yarns inpairs of interconnected -picks each of which is disposed in its separateshed and which includes clamp and cutter means for each of a pluralityof filling yarns, means for selectively controlling filling yarns topresent them to said lling inserting mean-s while retaining theremainder of said filling yarns inactive which comprises (a) anoscillatable indexing head forcontrollably positioning said fillingyarns,

(b) first means for effecting oscillation of said head in one direction,

(c) further means for effecting oscillation of said head in the oppositedirection, and

(d) pattern controlled means for determining the degree of oscillationof said indexing head.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the means for selectivelycontrolling filling yarns includes Ia rotatable shaft for supportingsaid indexing head for oscillating movement to selectively present anyone of the plurality of filling yarns carried thereby to said insertingmeans.

3. The structure of claim 2 wherein said means for selectivelycontrolling filling yarns further includes a second shaft supported forclockwise and anti-clockwise rotation adjacent to and in a planeparallel with said rotatable shaft. f

4. The structure to claim 3 wherein said shafts include interconnectinggear means for transmitting the dictates of said second shaft to saidrotatable shaft.

5. The structure of claim 4 wherein said means for selectivelycontrolling filling yarns includes a driving shaft disposed in spacedrelation to and in a plane parallel with said rotatable and secondshafts.

6. The structure according to claim 5 wherein said shaft includes a pairof spaced gear members fixed for rotation therewith.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein said second shaft includes a firstgear element supported for rotation therewith and driven in ananti-clockwise direction by one of said pair of gear members.

8. The structure of claim 7 wherein said second shaft further includes asecond gear element supported for rotation therewith and driven in aclockwise direction by the other of said pair of gear members.

9. The structure of claim 8 wherein said second shaft fixedly supportsselectively controllable clutch members, one for each of said gearelements for effecting rotation of the latter shaft in a selecteddirection of rotation thereby rotating said rotatable shaft and indexinghead to a position to present one of said filling yarns to said fillinginserting means.

10. The structure of claim 4 wherein said interconnecting gear meansincludes a rack gear in meshing relation with pinion gears provided atone end of said rotatable and second shafts.

11. The structure of claim 9 wherein said second shaft includes aselectively engageable brake member for stablizing the movement of saidshaft as it is caused to rotate first in one direction and then theother.

12. The structure of claim 7 wherein an intermediate gear is provided indriving relation with one of said pairs of gears and said rst gearelement for rotating the latter in the same direction as said one gearof Said pain 13. The structure of claim 10 wherein said pattern controlmeans includes a plurality of selectively controlled plunger members onefor each of said filling yarns -and which are selectively actuated tofunctionin cooperation with and limit the movement of said rack gearwhereby said indexing head is rotated -a predetermined number of degreesto present the lling yarns individually to the selected plunger in a posinserting means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,040,782 6/19162 Pfarrwauer139-122 3,192,957 7/1965 oNeiu 139-55 3,237,648 3/1966 Grisay 139-14 y lFOREIGN PATENTS H 1,348,241 2/1963 France.

mOn-t0 be' received by .Said ,fi-mn? 10 HENRY s'. 1JAUDoN, PrimmExaminer. i

